38S 


IRLF 


GIFT   OF 


* 

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<$£  £0e  £itf  fe  &#> 
of  Qi5efitfe0etrt  ^own 

(gy  emiff  f  un«njion  (ffliefer 

"^.nb  t^ere  were  in  $e  eftme 
countrg  e0ep§erbe  aBibtng 
in  ^e  ftefb,  fteeptng  ft>dtc| 
ot>er  t^etr  ffocfte  Bg  nig^f." 

* 

* 

APPARITION  TO  THE  SHEPHERDS        "'  PLOCKHORST 


"//  was  she  who  said, 

'Fear  not,'  and  I  looked  up  and 

did  not  fear. " 


&Wt 


SCENE  ONE 

Night  on  the  hills  above  Bethlehem.  Three 
shepherds  are  in  a  group;  a  fourth  sits  apart, 
father  of  the  little  lad  who  sits  near  him  with 
one  arm  around  a  shaggy  sheep-dog.  :  :  :  :  :  : 


>ME  closer,  lad.    I  like  to  feel 


FATHER 


*Vo: 

you  near. 

My  little  David  — little  moth- 
erless lamb  — 
But  six  tonight,  and  she  a  year  in 

heaven ! 
How  near  the  stars  are,  father.    Do, 

you  think 
My  mother  can  look  down  and  see 

us  here? 

Perhaps  — it   may  be  so  — I    cannot    FATH" 
tell. 


DAVID 


DAVID 


FATHER 


DAVID 


FATHER 


DAVID 


FATHH 


of 


And  speak  to  us,  because  it  is  my 

birthday  ? 
I  do  not  think  so.  She  would  surely 

speak 

Seeing  how  sad  we  are  with  her  away. 
What  does  she  do  in  heaven? 
Praise  God,  and  go  His  errands  to 

and  fro. 
O  then  she  might  perchance  be  sent 

this  way, 
And  we  could  see  her  as  she  passed 

along. 
Dost  think  my  mother  could  forget 

to  love  us, 
Having  so  many  joys  in  God's  great 

heaven  ? 

Not  so!  O  never  so!  Sf  yet  the  Rabbis 
Say  it  may  be  the  soul  goes  back  to 

God, 


fyiib  %to  o 


As  the  drop  to  the  ocean,when  the  clay 
That  held  it  crumbles  to  its  native 

dust. 
My  mother  was  not  clay— 

What  then,  dear  lad  ? 
I  cannot  tell.  Some  soft,  sweet,  shin- 
ing stuff 
That  makes   the  flowers,  and   bird 

songs,  and  the  sunshine  — 
What  are  God's  errands, father?   Do 

His  angels 
Feed  the  wild  birds,  and  paint  the 

sunset  clouds, 
And  lead  the  stars  out  in  a  shining 

flock- 
And  shake  the  dew  down  on  the  grass 

at  night, 
And  fill  the  little  brooks  brim  full 

of  rain 


DAVID 


FATHER 


DAVID 


DAVID 


For  all  the  thirsty  sheep  to  come  and 

drink  ? 
jt  ^g^  be  so.  \ye  know  they  do 

His  will 
But  no  eye  sees  them  as  they  come 

and  go  — 
How  light  it  grows !    almost  as  if  the 

dawn 

Already  had  begun  — 
Look,  father!    See  the  glory  in  the 

sky, 

As  if  a  door  were  opened  into  heaven! 
O  look!   look! 


torn 


SCENE  TWO 

As  the  splendor  deepens  the  shepherds  fall  on 
their  faces  and  the  lad  stands  gazing  upward, 
silent,  but  not  afraid.  The  voice  cries,  "Fear 
not"  and  tells  of  the  wondrous  birth,  and  the 
vision  of  angels  sweeps  by  with  the  song  of  praise. 
The  shepherds  slowly  rise  and  look  at  each  other. 


heard  it?  you  and  you?  and 
saw  the  angels? 
Surely  no   mortal   eyes  have 

seen  such  things 
Since  Jacob  slept  at  Bethel — 
Or  such  a  song  rang  out  since  first 

the  stars 
Together  sang   above   a   new-born 

world. 
Come,  let  us  go  to  Bethlehem,  that 

our  eyes 

May  see thc  Hope  of  Israel,born  today, 
And  spread  the  tidings. 


FIRST 

SHEPKZRD 


SECOND 
SHEPHERD 


FATHER 

FIRST 
SHEPHERD 


DAVID 

FIRST 
SHEPHERD 


DAVID 


SECOND 
SHEPHERD 


DAVID 


FATHER 


But  here's  the  lad,  my  David — 
Leave  him:  he'll  sleep;  the  dog  will 

guard  him  well. 
O  father!  take  me  with  you  — 
Or  let  him  stay  with  Joseph  in  the  lodge 
Down  by  the  olive  garden. 
Father,  dear!   I  will  not  hinder;   I 

will  run  so  fast. 
We'll  soon  be  back;    nothing  can 

harm  you,  lad. 
Father,  you   promised.     'Twas  my 

birthday  treat, 
To  watch  all  night  upon  the  hills 

with  you. 
Well,  come;    and   if  you   tire   I'll 

carry  you. 
You  are  no  heavier  than  a  yearling 

lamb; 
I've  often  borne  one  further. 


way — the  lad  in  his  father  s 
arms.) 

Father,  I  saw  her.  It  was  she  who  said,    DAVID 
"Fear  not,"  and  I  looked  up  and 

did  not  fear. 
You  said  she  went  God's  errands; 

might  it  be 
That  she  was  sent  to  bring  the  little 

Christ 
Down  to  his  mother  in  the  Bethlehem 

town? 

Dear  lad-  FATH" 

She'd  bear  him  well.    Her  hands  are    DAVID 

strong  and  soft, 
And  when  she  strokes  your  cheek,  or 

holds  you  close 
Against  her  breast — 
O  David!   hush,  my  lad;  you  break 

my  heart. 


FATHER 


DAVID 


SCENE  THREE 

In  the  stable:  The  shepherds  kneeling  in  awe 
and  wonder  while  one  tells  the  story  of  the  vision 
to  Joseph.  Mary,  seeing  the  little  lad's  wistful 
face,  puts  out  her  hand  and  draws  him  close  to 
her.  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  ;  :  :  :  :  :  : 


E'S   such  a  little   Christ — no 

bigger  than 
The  babe  my  mother  took 

with  her  to  heaven. 
Didst  see  the  angel  that  brought  the 

little  Christ? 
That  was  my  mother — for  my  father 

says 
She  goes  upon  God's  errands  to  and 

fro. 
I  think  she  surely  brought  him,  for 

tonight 

Upon  the  hills  she  came  to  tell  us  of 
him. 


tf  0e  £*»  of  (eeeem  torn 


I  saw  her  in  a  glory  like  the  sun; 
She  said:  " Fear  not," and  all  the  an- 
gels sang. 
Upon  the  hills? 

Yes,  where  we  watched  the  sheep. 
You  heard  the  angels,  lad  ?   What  did 

they  sing? 
I    cannot    tell.       I    only    saw    my 

mother, 
And  tried  to  keep  her  words  fast  in 

my  heart. 
She  said, "  Good  tidings  of  great  joy," 

and  then 
She  smiled  at  me,  the  way  she  used  to 

smile 
When  she  had  kissed  me  in  my  bed  at 

night, 
And  I  would  shut  my  eyes  so  I  might 

think 


MARY 

DAVID 
MARY 

DAVID 


em  torn 


MARY 


DAVID 


MARY 


She  was  still  there,  close  by  me  in  the 
dark. 

'T  is  not  so  strange.  I,  too,  have  seen 
an  angel; 

He  spoke  to  me,  and  told  me  won- 
drous things. 

May  I  touch  him,  the  little  baby 
Christ? 

Yes,  kiss  his  hand;  see  how  the  tiny 
fingers 

Cling  around  mine,  like  little  perch- 
ing birds. 

So  dear — so  sweet — and  yet  my  very 
own  — 

Almost  I  wish  that  he  were  born  like 
you 

A  shepherd  lad,  to  lead  the  harmless 
sheep, 

Sol  mightfold  him  in  my  arms  ^f  smile 


of  (ge^eejem  town 


Without  a  thought  of  Herod.  Now 
my  fear, 

An  icy  wind,  blows  through  my  new- 
born joy 

And  chills  it  to  the  death,  and  makes 
me  tremble. 

Yet  God  is  strong— I  will  not  be 
afraid  — 

Sleep  on,  my  little  son.  He'll  keep 
you  safe, 

He'll  give  His  angels  charge  con- 
cerning you. 

(Mary  draws  the  babe  to  her  bosom 
and  sings  to  him  softly.} 

My  soul  doth  magnify  the  Lord,  for 
behold  from  henceforth  all  gener- 
ations shall  call  me  blessed - 
(The  shepherds  go  out  in  silence.} 


FATH.R 


(An  older 
main) 


SCENE  FOUR 

The  shepherds  linger  a  little  in  the  courtyard 
of  the  inn,  where  groups  of  people  are  encamped 
and  ajire  burning.  David,  holding  his  father's 
hand,  looks  at  the  strange  night-scene  'with  'won- 
dering eyes.  ;  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  : 


dawn  is  near;  we  should  be 
on  our  way. 
The  sheep  will  soon  be  calling 

from  the  fold. 
The  sheep  !    Well,  let  them  call,— 

there's  higher  work 
For  us  tonight  than  watching  by  a 

sheep-fold. 
We  must  go  spread  the  tidings  of  the 

Christ. 
The  town  is  full,  and  both  the  inns 

,  /-i  . 

o  endowing, 

And  Roman  soldiers  here  to  speed 
the  taxing. 


of  q$e9fefem  toom 


If  word  were  sent  to  Herod  that  a  King 
Was  born  to  Israel,  and  the  Bethle- 

hem town 
In  a  wild  tumult,  needs  no  prophet's 

tongue 
To  say  what  would  befall.  Let  us  go 

homeward, 
And  praise  God  as  we  go. 

Aye,  you  are  wise. 
God  set  me  to  keep  sheep,  but  oft  at 

night 
I    speak    with    Him,  as   once    King 

David  did, 
A  little  shepherd  lad  on  these  same 

hills. 
I  think  He  cares  for  all  weak,  help- 

less things 
His  hand  has  made,  and  so  I  must 

believe 


FATHER 


£0e  Zittte  -£*b  of  (ge*  Went  torn 


That  I  can  please  Him  best  by  doing 

well 
The  work  He  gave  me,  while  I  sing 

His  praise. 
A    babe  —  a  babe  —  and   I  am   nigh 

fourscore. 
When  he  is  grown  I  shall  sleep  with 

my  fathers, 
And  shall  not  see  his  triumph,  if  in- 

deed 
This    be    the    Hope   of  Israel,  the 

Messiah. 
Well  —  God  be  praised  for  what  my 

eyes  have  seen. 

(  Shepherds  sing  as  they  go  a  temple- 
song:  Psalm  72.} 

He  shall  have  dominion  also  from 
sea  to  sea,  and  from  the  river  un- 
to the  ends  of  the  earth. 


ftee  fyto  of  qgedjeejjem  torn 

Yea,  all  kings  shall  fall  down  before 
him:  all  nations  shall  serve  him. 

His  name  shall  endure  for  ever:  his 
name  shall  be  continued  as  long 
as  the  sun:  and  men  shall  be 
blessed  in  him:  all  nations  shall 
call  him  blessed. 

Blessed  be  the  Lord  God,  the  God  of 
Israel,  who  only  doeth  wondrous 
things. 

And  blessed  be  his  glorious  name  for 
ever:  and  let  the  whole  earth  be 
filled  with  his  glory  — 

"All  nations,"  that  is  what  the  angel 

•    -I  murmurs) 

said — 
"Good  tidings  to  all   people,"  and 

"great  joy," 
And  then  she  smiled,  and  went  again 

to  God. 


Here  endeth  THE  LITTLE  LAD 
OF  BETHLEHEM  TOWN,  being  one 
more  story  of  that  miraculous 
time  when  a  star  shone  to  mark 
the  way  to  a  stable.  Told  by 
Emily  Huntington  Miller,  who 
is  already  known  as  the  writer 
of  From  Avalon,  For  the  Beloved, 
Songs  from  the  West,  An  Eastern 
Vision  and  others.  Illustrated  from 
paintings  of  Lerolle  and  Plock- 
horst.  Published  by  Paul  Elder  & 
Company  and  seen  through  their 
Tomoye  Press  by  John  Henry 
Nash  in  the  City  of  San  Francisco 
during  the  month  of  June  and 

year  Nineteen  Hundred  fif  Eleven 

» 

Copyright,  1911 

by  PAUL  ELDER  AND  COMPANY 
SAN  FEANCISCO 


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rechar^sma^e  made  4  days  prior 


LD21-A30m-7  '73 
(R2275S10)476— A32 


,     General  Library 
University  of  California 
Berkeley 


RY 


